Topola Things to Do Tips by Jeca011 Top 5 Page for this destination

Crypt

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The crypt, intended to be the burial place of members of the Karadjordjevic dynasty, runs under the entire church. Members of five generation of the Karadjordjevic family are buried in the crypt., four of which are rulers.

Here are buried:

In the upper part of the church, where the religious services are being held are the tombs of Karadjordje and King Petar I.

In crypt:

Karadjordje's wife
Jelena

Prince Aleksandar I

Princess Persida

Princess Ljubica-Zorka

Prince Djordje

Princess Radmila

King Aleksandar II

Prince Arsen

and

Prince Tomislav

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Karadjordje's residence (Konak)

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With the failure of the first uprising, in 1813, Topola town was burnt down. The ruins of Topola town stood decades as mute witnesses of Serbian revolution. Only, with the change in dynasty, when Karadjordje,s son Aleksandar came to the throne in 1842 did changes start to take place.

Today part of the residence is preserved, while a part disappeared when the town was destroyed, in 1877. The residence had seven rooms, a room in which equipment for the horses was kept, a large porch in front of the rooms and two cellars. The residence was made of stone. Original documents, personal items belonging to Karadjordje, the weapons of the insurgents and various ethnographic articles originating from the XIX century are exhibited here. Here you can see "aberdar" (meaning herald in Turkish) - cannon. Right handle is missing today from the cannon - it was taken off to be made into the crown of King Petar I.

Residence is complete renovated in 1965.

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Karadjordje's church

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The leader of the first Serbian uprising, Karadjordje Petrovic, built his memorial, the "Birth of the Holy Mother of God", in keeping with the traditions of medieval Serbian rulers. Construction started in 1811 and the building works were completed that year. The church is single-naved with the base in the shape of an inscribed cross. It has a pointed roof, covered with tiles, above which rises a narrow dome. The spatial entities are clearly divided in the interior of the church: the square nartex is linked to the central area with the slight extension of the northern and southern choir. As in all Orthodox churches, the altar stands in the east, behind the iconostasis. The Holy Trinity (God the Father, God the Son and a white dove as a symbol of the Holy Ghost) is depicted in the dome. The church is built of stone, plastered and today whitewashed. Inside on right side you can see place where Karadjordje's grave was initially situated. There is also on a left side a grave of his grandoughter.

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Karadjordje's town

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In fighting the Turks in 1804, Karadjordje made Topola the headquarters of the newly formed Serbian army and the seat of all the state institutions. Starting with 1811 till 1813 a fortress with defense towers was built in Topola. The interesting story is that in the construction of the fortress Karadjordje himself took part, carrying the building material together with the builders. Today only parts of the wall, the church endowed to the "Birth of the Holy Mother of God" and the Inn (Konak), now the museum of the Uprising, are saved.

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Monument to King Petar I

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This is a monument of King Petar I Karadjordjevic. It's in front of his house.

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Park

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There is beautiful park on Oplenac too. In park you can see King Petar house, King Aleksandar house, Queen Maria house, first electric plant in Topola, etc. All this objects are under protection and they are authentic.

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House of Queen Maria

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The home of Queen Maria was built is 1934. In this house Queen used to be together with her sons - King Petar II, Prince Tomislav and Prince Andrej.

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House of King Aleksandar I

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The home of King Aleksandar was built in 1923. Prince Tomislav Karadjordjevic lived here after he returned in Serbia in 1991. There are fantastic view from the terrace on vineyards and Sumadija.

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House of King Petar I

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This building was erected in 1912. The home of King Petar the First is today a museum where the icons presented to King and the Karadjordjevic family by the official delegations or other visitors are now kept. Russian masters made most of the icons. You can see some personal stuffs and photos of royal family here too.

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Church of St. George

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The church is endowment of King Petar the First Karadjordjevic. The church was under construction from 1910 till 1912. The foundation stone was laid in 1907, and a big wooden cross was built into the foundation. It is coated with white marble from Vencac, a quarry nearby Topola and made in the Byzantine style. The four pillars were made in Carrara, Italy. Contrary to the Serbian mediaeval monasteries, where the interior is decorated in fresco painting technique, the Oplenac Church interior is completely covered by mosaic. The company "Paul Wagner" from Berlin manufactured these mosaics from 1927 to 1932. Following the idea of King Aleksandar, the most renowned frescoes from 60 mediaeval Serbian monasteries and churches were copied. The only original composition is the benefactor's portrait of King Petar the First. The copying of these frescoes lasted from 1922 till 1927. In the upper part of the church, where the religious services are being held are the tombs of Karadjordje and King Petar the First.

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